Steffen Seibert, spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said Berlin “does not recongise such a declaration of independence” by Catalonia. Battle of willsThe issue is far from a clear-cut battle of wills between Madrid and Catalonia, however. Polls show Catalans themselves are split, pretty much down the middle, on the issue of independence from Spain. Dozens of opposition MPs walked out before Friday´s secret ballot in the Catalan parliament, one lamenting “a dark day” for democracy. DisobedienceCatalan resentment at Madrid’s perceived interference has been building for years, compounded by the 2008 economic crisis.

Source: Manila Times October 28, 2017 05:03 UTC